According to my records, I’ve attended 73 concerts this year, including those in festivals. As I always say, if I ever go to a concert, it’s to be thrilled, to be moved, to feel something. Mind that I haven’t written about all of these 73 and some of them I have, but elsewhere. So… what follows is nothing but the list of those concerts that have meant something to me on that day, for whatever reason. There I go, and in chronological order…

1. Florence + The Machine – 17/4/16, Palacio Vistalegre, Madrid

Florence + The Machine en Palacio Vistalegre

That concert meant meeting Mané Lópezfor the first time (it seems as if it had happened so long ago!) and not having to write about it for any mag, unlike what I did for the same gig in Barcelona. Though I did write about it anyway. It was too good to let it escape. I had a whale of a time despite the fact that the concert was pretty much the same as the one in Barcelona. Oh well…

2. Marlango – 24/4/16, Sala BARTS, Barcelona

When I grow up, I just wanna be like Leonor Watling. Period. And this.

3. The Lazy Lies & Indigos – 21/5/16, Sala BeGood, Barcelona

That eve was pretty emotional, as for the first time, I met Malou Bustos, former TLL manager, with whom I had been talking now and then for ages on Twitter. I also met Iván Gil, the photographer who invited me to a Coke before the gig (I still owe you!) to get to know each other and later on became my friend. Way.to.go. It all made me enjoy the concerts in a very special mood. As for the gigs, I was gladly surprised about the quality of both bands, them being rather unknown. Who would’ve thought as well that would be the starting point for so many connections. It’s a small world, indeed. And yes, I also wrote about both performances.

4. Queen + Adam Lambert – 22/5/16, Palau Sant Jordi, Barcelona

Yeah, Adam Lambert is not Freddie Mercury. But I arrived late at the party. Better late than never, though. (more)

I would’ve liked to add Damien Rice too but he moved me more at PS2015. In any case, from Cruïlla 2016, the highlights were: Alabama Shakes, who were outstanding, and Ramon Mirabet, undoubtedly a promise of the present Catalan music scene.

10. Whitney – 23/10/16, Sala Apolo, Barcelona

If their album is one of my faves this year, their performance did nothing but confirm that they are great.

11. Placebo – 19/11/16, Sportpaleis, Antwerp

If one of your fave bands isn’t coming to town, you gotta go after them to celebrate their 20th anniversary comme il faut.

When you collaborate for a website tackling not only music but also cinema and other showbiz events, chances are that you will be asked to write about things that have nothing to do with your background culture. Believe it or not, before writing this piece on the release of the remake of The Rocky Horror Picture Show 2016, I had no idea of the existence of the cult movie it stems from. It turns out I should’ve been familiar with it, as there have even been events in Barcelona running for years related to this movie. All in all, writing this piece meant a couple of hours browsing the net, watching videos to grasp what the whole thing with the original movie and the remake is about and write the final piece. Knowing that Adam Lambert is in it and having just attended his concert with Queen makes me feel like watching this remake. Who would’ve thought!